Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has claimed the Blues are no longer as reliant on Cole Palmer as they were last season.
Maresca was speaking ahead of the Premier League clash against London rivals Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.
Palmer was far and away Chelsea’s best player last season, and there were concerns in the summer that such dependency would continue.
The England international led the Blues to a sixth-place finish last season and has contributed 15 combined goals and assists already this term.
“This season we are less reliant on Cole Palmer and we are very happy,” Maresca said at his pre-match press conference (via Fabrizio Romano).
“If you remember in my first press conference I said that we cannot rely on Cole for every game… because it is not correct. He has to enjoy football.”
Chelsea are second in the standings, ahead of Arsenal on goal difference.
